Question

in the periodic table there are three different categories of elements : metals , metalloids and non metals . there is also a line seperating metals from the non metals . but in that seperation some metalloids are being kept in the metal category and some in the non metal category. why is this so

Answer 1

Dear Student,
The periodic table contains metals , non-metals, metalloids,
The position of metalloids is not fixed as such in the periodic table metalloids represent a transition from metallic character to non-metallic character.
There is no fixed criteria to classify a metalloid it based upon the properties that it shows .
Metalloids usually have properties both of metal and non-metal such as they are lustrous as metals , brittle as non-metals, form either amphoteric oxides or the acidic oxides as non-metals, Chemical behaviour just like the non-metals.
The keeping of metalloids towards metals or non-metals depends upon the resemblance or closeness to either metals or non-metals. Metalloids show diagonal relationships usually.
Because of all the above reasons the metalloids are not at a fixed line in the periodic table.
Regards!